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Brandy's upcoming memoir: debunking myths about her life and friendship with Shyne

Lutho Pasiya|Published

Brandy is set to confront long standing misconceptions in her upcoming memoir "PHASES", using the book to reclaim her narrative and address stories that have followed her for years.

Image: Instagram/Brandy

R&B star Brandy has addressed long-running claims about her past as she prepares to release her memoir “PHASES”.

In a statement shared on Instagram, she clarified her history with rapper Shyne.

“In the late ‘90s, I had a platonic friendship with rapper Shyne. In an unfortunate turn of events, that friendship is now being mischaracterised as ‘we dated.’ Unequivocally, we did not,” she said.

“I’m not sure why an untrue narrative about what was a friendship more than 20 years ago is being reshaped during his current media interviews.”

Brandy explained that the situation is one of the reasons behind her decision to tell her own story.

“People telling their version of my story is why I am releasing my upcoming memoir ‘PHASES’. It’s time to tell my truth and debunk many of the misnomers that people think they know about my life,” she wrote. 

She added that she rarely responds to headlines, even when they are inaccurate.

“When I do decide to stand up for myself, I handle things on my own,” she said, also noting that while she loves her brother Ray J, she does not support his recent social media posts or ask him to speak on her behalf. 

Published by Hanover Square Press and co-written with journalist Gerrick Kennedy, “PHASES” traces Brandy’s life from her early years in Mississippi to her rise in music and television.

It revisits key moments such as her breakout success as a teenager, her role on “Moesha" and her portrayal of Cinderella alongside Whitney Houston.

The memoir also explores personal challenges, including bullying, body image, mental health and the pressure of public expectations, while reflecting on her relationships and career over the years.